Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes



H. M. WEST May 21, 1968 APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ITEMS FROM ENVELOPESFiled Nov. 22. 1966 Y 2. SheetsSheet 1 INVEN'IOR. Horace M Wesf v BY WAffomgys y 1, 1 968 H. M. WEST 3,384,252

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ITEMS FROM ENVELOPES Filed Nov. 22, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 2 -i g 11 N i i. 13? 47 n F'L I NVEN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,384,252 Patented May 21, 1968 Filed Nov.22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,254 8 Claims. (Cl. 214305) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An apparatus to sever the edge of an envelope outwardly ofthe enclosed item to be removed and -to feed the envelope sequentiallyto an extracting station. The envelope is held against lateral movementwhile in the extracting location and suction members move intoengagement with opposite sides of the envelope adjacent the severed edgethereof and then move outwardly away from each other while the suctionmembers are in engagement with the sides of the envelope whereby thesides of the envelope are moved outwardly away from each other. Clampingmembers of an extractor unit are then moved inwardly of the envelopeadjacent opposite sides of the item to be removed. The clamping membersmove into engagement with the item and then the clamping members areremoved to thus extract the item from the envelope,

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, various deviceshave been proposed to insert items in envelopes but no effective meanshas been devised for extracting items, such as checks and the like froman envelope. The removal of checks from envelopes is a costly and timeconsuming operation where large numbers of such envelopes are received,such as occurs in the payments of bills to large companies, such asutility companies, which mail to their customers along with the monthlystatement a return envelope for receiving a check. Upon receipt of theseenvelopes from the customers, the envelopes are opened by hand and thechecks extracted therefrom.

To overcome the time consuming and expensive method of removing items,such as checks, from envelopes, I have devised apparatus which isadapted to sever an edge of each envelope outwardly of the item to beremoved, together with means for moving the sides of the envelopeadjacent the severed edge outwardly away from each other whereupon anextractor unit is inserted into the enevolep to remove the itemtherefrom.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, show ing my improvedapparatus;

FIG. -2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 22of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, sectional view taken generally along the line4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, I show a supporting frame having an envelope supply hopper 11adjacent one end thereof. The envelopes, indicated at 12, are removedfrom the bottom of the hopper 11 by an endless chain unit 13 having aseries of longitudinally spaced conveying elements 14 thereon which arein position to determine the longitudinal spacing of the envelopes alongthe chain 13. The envelopes 12 are delivered sequentially onto theendless chain 13 in a manner well understood in the art whereby a singleenvelope is engaged by each conveying element 14 as the chain 13 movesin the direction of the arrow 16. Since the means for delivering theenvelopes sequentially onto the chain 13 is a conventional feed unit, nofurther descripution thereof is deemed necessary.

The movement of the chain 13 is stopped each time an envelope 12 reachesan extracting position and then after extraction of the envelope, thechain moves forwardly until another envelope reaches the extractinglocation. As shown in FIG. 1, the endless chain 13 is driven by a driveshaft 17. Rotary motion is imparted to the drive shaft 17 through aclutch unit 18 which is deenergized each time a conveying element 14positions an envelope 12 at the extracting location. The clutch 18 isenergized and deenergized by suitable means, such as an electricalsolenoid 19.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, I show an envelope 12 in dotted lines in theextracting position. That is, the envelope is opposite an extractingunit indicated generally at 21. Also mounted on the frame 10 at theextracting location is an envelope opening unit indicated generally at22. Rollers 20 having resilient contact surfaces are mounted on theframe in position to engage an envelope 12 and restrain lateral movementthereof while in the extracting position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a cutter unit 23 is mounted on the frame 10in position to sever an edge of each envelope 12 outwardly of the itemto be removed therefrom. The cutter unit 23 is mounted adjacent thesupply hopper 11 whereby the edges are severed prior to reaching theextracting location. The cutter unit comprises a pair of rotary cutterelements 24 and 26 which are mounted in position to sever only theenvelope 12 whereby the item to be removed is not damaged in any way.Preferably, the lower cutter element 26 is urged toward the upper cutterelement 24 by a spring 27. The upper cutter element 24 is driven by amotor 28, as shown.

The unit 22 for opening the envelope 12 as it reaches the extractinglocation comprises a pair of suction members 29 and 31 which are adaptedto engage opposite sides of the envelope 12 adjacent the severed edgethereof, as shown in FIG. 2. The suction members 29 and 31 are movedtoward and away from each other by a pair of arms 32 and 33 which arepivotally supported by parts of the supporting frame 10 by pivot pins 34and 36, respectively. Pivotally connected to the arm 32 by a pivot pin37 is the upper end of a link 38. The lower end of link 38 is pivotallyconnected by a pin 39 to an elongated link 41 which is pivotallyconnected to the frame 10 by a pivot pin 42. Pivotally connected to theend of the arm 33 by a pivot pin 43 is the upper end of a link 44,having its lower end pivotally connected by a pivot pin 46 to the end oflink 41.

Mounted for rotation on the frame 10 subjacent the arm 41 is a shaft 47which carries a cam 48. A recess 49 is provided in the rotary cam 48 inposition to receive a roller 51 carried by the arm 41. The cam 48 isrotated in timed relation with movement of the chain 13 whereby eachtime a conveying element 14 positions an envelope 12 in the extractingposition, the roller 51 engages the recess 49 whereupon the arm 32 andits suction member 29 move downwardly to engage envelope 12 while thearm 33 and its suction member 31 move upwardly to engage envelope 12.Suitable conduits 52 and 53 communicate with the suction members 29 and31, respectively, whereby a partial vacuum is created in the suctionmembers to thus detachably connect the sides of the envelope to thesuction members whereby the sides of the envelope move outwardly withthe suction members as the rotary cam 48 moves the arms 32 and 33 andtheir suction members 29 and 31 outwardly to the position shown in FIG.2. That is, as the roller 51 moves outwardly of the recess 49, the links38 and 44 are lifted to thus move the free ends of the arms 32 and 33outwardly away from each other.

The extractor unit 21 is mounted on upstanding frame members 54 carriedby the frame 10. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the frame members 54carry horizontally extending brackets 56 at their upper ends. Mountedfor rotation in suitable bearing brackets 57 carried by the upstandingframe 54 is a shaft 69 which is operatively connected to a motor 59 bysprockets 61 and 62 and a drive chain 63. Mounted on the drive shaft 69is a sprocket 67 which drives a chain 66 that passes around sprockets 64and 68 carried by shafts 58 and 71, respectively. Also mounted on theshaft 71 is a sprocket 72 which is operatively connected to a sprocket73 by a sprocket chain 74. The sprocket 73 is mounted on a shaft 76which is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings carried by aplate-like member 77. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end of theplate-like member 77 is secured to the shaft 71 whereby it is adapted topivot from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 to the dotted lineposition. As shown in FIG. 3, a downwardly opening recess 78 is providedin the plate-like member 77. Pivotally connected to the shaft 76 withinthe opening 78 is one end of an arm 79. The other end of the arm 79 isconnected by a pivot pin 81 to a pair of arms 82 and 83 which in turnare rigidly secured to the shaft 69 whereby upon rotation of the shaft69, the arms 82, 83 and 79 rotate in the direction of the arrow 84 tothus move the member 77 from the solid line position to the dotted lineposition shown in FIG. 2.

Mounted on the shaft 76 in spaced relation to each other, as shown inFIG. 3, are a pair of cam memb rs 86 and 87 which rotate in thedirection of the arrow 88. Pivotally connected to the depending portionsof the plate-like member 77 by pivot pins 89 and 91 are clamping arms 92and 93, respectively. The clamping arms 92 and 93 are urged toward therotary cams 86 and 87 by suitable Spring members 94, as shown in FIG. 2.The upper end of each arm 92 and 93 carries a roller element 96 which isadapted to engage the cams 86 and 87. Secured rigidly to or formedintegrally with the lower ends of the arms 92 and 93 are forwardlyextending portions 97 and 98 which in turn carry clamp members 99 and101 which are adapted to move inwardly of the envelope 12 while thesides thereof are moved outwardly, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, theclamping members 99 and 101 are adapted to move along opposite sides ofthe item to be removed indicated generally at 100. As shown in FIG. 2,the cams 86 and 87 are of a shape to cause the arms 92 and 93 and theclamping members 99 and 101 carried thereby to move from the solid lineposition shown in FIG. 2 to the dotted line position. Also, the clampingmembers 99 and 101 move along the dotted lines 102 and 103,respectively, during movement toward the envelope 12 and move along thedotted lines 104 and 106 while moving away from the envelope 12.Accordingly, the clamping members 99 and 101 are in spaced relation toeach other as they enter the envelope 12 whereupon they then moveinwardly toward each other and into engagement with the item 100. Theitem is then extracted upon movement of the plate-like member 77 to thedotted line position shown in FIG. 2. A suitable receptacle 107 isprovided in position to receive the items 100 as they are discharged bythe clamping members 99 and 101. To facilitate removal of the items 100from the clamping members 99 and 101, upwardly and inwardly extendingleaf-like members 108 are mounted in position to engage the item andthus separate the same from the clamping members 99 and 101.

In order to be sure that the items 100 have been removed from theenvelopes 12, I provide a sensing unit 109 in position to engage theenvelopes 12 after they leave the extracting location. In the drawings,I show the sensing unit 109 as being in the form of a thicknessindicator having downwardly and forwardly extending arms 111 and 112which are connected to a transverse shaft 113. The lower ends of thearms 111 and 112 are adapted to ride upon the envelope as it passestherebeneath to thus indicate the thickness of the envelope. The arms111 and 112 are secured to the shaft 113 whereby the shaft rotates uponmovement of the arms. A suitable switch element 114 is operativelyconnected to the shaft 113 and is actuated to stop the apparatus in theevent an item 100 has not been removed from the envelope 12 ositionedtherebeneath. That is, in the event the it m 100 remains in theenvelope, the overall thickness of the envelope would be such that theswitch element 114 would be actuated.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatuswill be readily understood. The envelopes 12 are fed sequentially fromthe supply hopper 11 to the cutter unit 23 whereupon an edge of theenvelope, outwardly of the item to be removed, is severed. The conveyingelements 14 convey the envelopes 12 sequentially to the extractinglocation which is directly opposite the clamping elements 99 and 101.The clutch unit 18 deenergizes the circuit to the driving motor as theenvelope reaches the extracting location. At this time, the roller 51falls into the recess 49 whereupon the suction members 29 and 31 moveinwardly into engagement with the envelope 12. As the roller 51 movesout of the recess 49, the suction members 29 and 31 are moved outwardlyto thus move the sides of the envelope outwardly to the position shownin FIG. 2. Rotation of the shaft 69 is synchronized with the rotation ofshaft 47 for cam 48 whereby the clamping members 99 and 101 arepositioned to enter the open end of the envelope 12 immediately uponopening thereof by the suction members 29 and 31. After entering theenvelope 12 along opposite sides of the item 100, the cams 86 and 87move relative to the clamping arms 92 and 93 to thus move the clampingmembers 99 and 101 into clamping engagement with the item 100 whereuponit is extracted as the plate-like member 77 moves toward the dotted lineposition shown in FIG. 2.

After being removed from the envelope, the items 100 are deposited intoreceptacle 107. That is, the clamping members 99 and 101 move away fromeach other after the item has been extracted whereby it falls into thereceptacle 107. To further assure that all items are separated from theclamping members, the upwardly and inwardly extending leaf members 108are in position to engage the items.

After the items 100 have been extracted from the envelopes, theenvelopes pass beneath the sensing unit 109 and then pass to a suitablecontainer therefor. In the event an item is secured to the envelopewhereby it cannot be separated therefrom, the arms 111 and 112 of thesensing 109 would ride upon the envelope to thus indicate the presenceof the item whereupon the switch 114 would be actuated to stop theapparatus.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised improvedapparatus for extracting items from envelopes. By providing means forsevering an edge of the envelope and then opening the sides of theenvelope for receiving the clamping members, each item is removed fromthe envelope in an eflicient manner. Also, by providing suction meansfor positively opening the envelope, suflicient clearance is alwaysprovided for the reception of the extracting unit. Furthermore, byproviding clamping members which release the item after it has beenfully extracted from the envelope, there is no possibility of the itemremaining in the clamping members.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes comprising:

(a) means to sever an edge of each envelope outwardly of the itemtherein,

(b) means to feed envelopes with the edges thus severed sequentially toan extracting location,

(c) means limiting lateral movement of each envelope while in saidextracting location,

(d) suction members mounted in position to engage opposite sides of eachenvelope adjacent the severed edge thereof while the envelope is in saidextracting location,

(e) means creating a partial vacuum in said suction members so that thesides of the envelope are drawn into engagement with the suctionmembers,

(f) means moving said suction members toward each other and thenoutwardly away from each other while the suction members are inengagement with said sides of the envelope so that the sides of theenvelope adjacent said severed edge are moved outwardly away from eachother while the envelope is in said extracting location, and

(g) means to engage and positively extract items sequentially from saidenvelopes while the envelopes are in said extracting location.

2. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 1in which the means to extract items sequentially from said envelopescomprises,

(a) a pair of cooperating clamping members mounted in position to moveinwardly of an envelope while the envelope is in said extractinglocation with its sides moved outwardly away from each other,

(13) means to move said clamping members inwardly and outwardly of saidenvelope,

(c) means to move said clamping members away from each other as theclamping members move inwardly of the envelope to position the clampingmembers at opposite sides of the item to be extracted, and

(d) means to move said clamping members toward each other prior tomovement of the clamping members outwardly of the envelope.

3. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 2in which the means to move the clamp ing members inwardly and outwardlyof an envelope and toward and away from each other comprises,

(a) an oscillating member mounted for movement toward and away from anenvelope while in said extracting location,

(b) a pair of clamping arms pivotally connected to said oscillatingmember with each clamping arm carrying one of said clamping members, and

(c) cam members carried by said oscillating member and operativelyconnected to said clamping arms to move said clamping arms away fromeach other as the clamping members move inwardly of the envelope and tomove said clamping arms toward each other prior to movement of theclamping members outwardly of the envelope.

4. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 3in which the cam members are rotary members and the clamping arms haveangularly disposed cam engaging members which extend in position toengage the rotary cam members.

5. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 1in which the means moving the suction members toward and away from eachother comprises,

(a) a pair of arms carrying said suction members and pivotally supportedfor movement toward and away from an envelope while in said extractinglocation, and

(b) cam members operatively connected to said arms to move said arms andthe suction members carried thereby toward each other and then outwardlyaway from each other each time an envelope is moved into said extractinglocation.

6. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 1in which an indicator is mounted in position to indicate the removal ofthe item from the envelope after the envelope moves past said extractinglocation.

7. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 6in which the indicator is a thickness indicator mounted in position toengage the envelope to determine the thickness thereof.

8. Apparatus for extracting items from envelopes as defined in claim 1in which the means limiting lateral movement of the envelope comprisesresilient roller-like members disposed to engage the envelope while insaid extracting location.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,146,902 9/1964 voelker 2712 X3,076,965 2/1963 Simjian 214-305 X 3,116,718 1/1964 Kropotich et a153381 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

